Fire-tube boiler



March 29,1927. 1,622,577-

A. J. EBNER l FIRE TUBE BOILER Filed Jan. l5. 1923 Patented Mar. 29, 1927.

UNITED STTS j PATENT. ermee.

ALFRED J. EBNER, orenIcAeo,V I'LLINoIs'gnssI'GNonro rnnYnjnRAssEnretcoivn PANY, or CHICAGO,v ILLINOIS, AeoRroRATIoN oF' MAINE.

FIRE-TUBE Berman.

Application filed January 15, 1923.

This invention relates to a new and improved fire tube boiler and more specifically to a boiler provided with means introduced into the boiler flues adapted to increase the heat transfer and to provide means for cleaning the flues.

rl`he present invention has particular relation to boilers of the type designed to utilize waste heat from other apparatus such, for example, as open hearth furnaces. `These boilers are provided with flues through which pass the highly heated products of combustion from the furnace.

Relatively high velocity is to be desired in the movement of the gases passing through the flues since with slow velocity the colder gases tend to remain adjacent the wall of the tube or flue with a consequent failure to utilize the heat of the central portion of the gases. With high velocity there is a more thorough dispersion and equalization between the hot and cold gases. Further, in boilers of this type, there is a considerable accumulation of dust and solid matter of various kinds in the flues. It is necessary, therefore, for efficient operation, that the tubes be periodically cleaned or blown out.

It is an object of the present invention to provide means comprising members adapted to be located in the flues, said means causing the heated gases tobe passed into contact with the flue walls and to be caused to move at a greater velocity due to the restricted area of passage.

It is a further object to provide means of this character which are so constructed and connected as to be adapted for the introduction of steam or gas under pressure to blow out the foreign matter accumulating in the flues.

Other and further objects will appear as the description proceeds.

I have illustrated a preferred embodiment of my invention in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a fragmentary vertical section showing the invention applied to a waste heat boiler;

Figure 2 is a section on an enlarged scale showing one of the flues, with the inserted cylinder shown in elevation;

Figure 3 is a section taken on line 3 3 of Figure 2; and

Serial No. 612,637.

Figure 4 is a view on an enlarged scale showing the flue and cylinder in section.

Referring firstto Figure l, the waste heat boiler 11 is connected by passage 12 to the open hearth furnace or other source from which heated `gases may be drawn. The boilerV is connected by vpassage 18 with a stack or other means for carrying off the gases. The boiler as shown is provided with the steam connection 111. The ilues 15 of the boiler are each provided with a cylindrical member 16 which extends throughout the greater portion of the length of the Hue. These members 16 are tubular and are connected to the steam header 17, which latter is controlled by valve 18. The tubular member 16, shown more in detail in Figures 2 to 4, is provided with the lugs 19 which engage the inner walls of the iue 15 as best shown in Figure 8. As is apparent from the drawing, said lugs 19 present substantially no obstruction to the iiow of gases through the flues.

As shown in Figure 11, the tubular members 16 are provided with the openings 2() which are inclined in the direction of the normal flow of the gases through the flues.

The members 16 remain permanently in the flues and during the normal operation of the furnace, they serve to cause the gases to be ydirected against the inner flue walls, thus facilitating the transfer of heat. They also increase the necessary velocity of the gases since they reduce the available passage area.

When it is desired to blow the soot or other foreign matter from the flues, it is only necessary to open valve 18 when the steam entering the member 16 is directed against the flue walls through openings 20. The direction of the jets of steam passing through the openings is toward the stack end of the iiues and the foreign matter is effectively blown Vfrom the flues in the direction of the stack.

While I have shown one preferred embodiment of my invention, it is obviously capable of modification to meet varying conditions. Itis my intention to cover all such changes'and modifications as come within the scope of the appended claim.

I claim:

In combination, in a boiler, tubular flues of substantially uniform diameter extending therethrough, tubes of substantially uniform diameter mounted in said lines, said tubes being provided with spacing ineens for holding saine in spaced relation with he innei walls of said iues, said spacing' ineens coniprising lugs disposed around the periphery of euch of said tubes and being formed to provid-e substantially no obstruction to flow in the space between said tubes and their corresponding Hue Walls, said tubes beingl provided with openings through the Wells 10 thereof, said openings being inclined in the direction of the noiinzil flow in said tubes.

Signed at Chicago, illinois, this 11th day of January, 1923.

ALFRED J. EBNER. 

